ISO 17100 CERTIFIED · SAME-DAY TURNAROUND
Audio Translation Services in London and the UK
Audio translation services in London and the UK deliver certified transcripts, subtitles, voice-overs and dubbing in 200+ languages, ISO 17100, same-day turnaround.
- ISO 17100 Certified
- Same-day Turnaround
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What we do
Our services
What are audio translation services?
Audio translation services convert spoken-word recordings from one language into another by transcribing the source audio, translating the transcript under ISO 17100 quality, and delivering the result as a bilingual transcript, subtitle file, voice-over or fully dubbed video.
How does the audio translation process work end to end?
The audio translation process works in five linked stages: file capture and brief, source-language transcription with timecodes, target-language translation, ISO 17100 dual-linguist QA, and delivery as a transcript, subtitle file, voice-over or dubbed video.
Which audio translation deliverables can you order?
Six audio translation deliverables are available: bilingual time-coded transcripts, monolingual translated transcripts, subtitle files (SRT/VTT/TTML), professional voice-over recordings, lip-sync dubbed video and certified transcripts accepted by UK authorities.
Which industries use audio translation services in the UK?
Seven UK industries lean heavily on audio translation: legal and law enforcement, healthcare and life sciences, market research, broadcast and media, e-learning, corporate communications and the creative podcast sector.
How much do audio translation services cost in London and the UK?
Audio translation services in the UK start from £30 per page for the certified translated transcript, with the full per-minute quote shaped by source-audio runtime, audio clarity, number of speakers, language pair, deliverable type and turnaround speed.
What turnaround times apply to audio translation in London?
Audio translation turnaround London runs same-day for recordings under 1,000 source words placed before 11:00 GMT, 24 to 48 hours for legal and academic packs, and milestone delivery for projects above 10,000 words, all under ISO 17100 quality control.
Spoken-word recordings carry evidence, training, market insight and brand voice that text-only translation does not capture. For London and UK buyers commissioning Professional Translation Services in London, UK, audio translation is the discipline that turns those recordings into accurate, certified, publication-ready deliverables across 200+ languages.
Services
How does the audio translation process work end to end?
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Stage 1 — How do you capture and brief the audio file?
Audio capture begins when the client uploads the source file (MP3, WAV, MP4, MOV) through an encrypted portal and confirms language pair, intended audience, deliverable format and any speaker-identification notes. The brief locks five variables at the outset: source language, target language, runtime, deliverable type and deadline, so every later stage has a fixed scope.
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Stage 2 — How is the source audio transcribed?
Source audio is transcribed by a native-speaker linguist into a verbatim or clean-read transcript with millisecond timecodes, speaker labels and inaudible-segment flags to anchor every later translation decision. This transcription stage shares the same workflow as our standalone Transcription Services, and it is the foundation on which translation accuracy depends.
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Stage 3 — How is the transcript translated?
The verbatim transcript is translated by a second native-speaker linguist working into their mother tongue, preserving meaning, register and speaker intent, and adding cultural localisation notes where idioms or references do not travel. Speaker hesitations, technical terms and proper nouns are translated against a project glossary built during the brief.
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Stage 4 — How is quality assured under ISO 17100?
Quality assurance under ISO 17100 requires a third independent reviewer to compare the translated transcript against the source audio, check terminology, numbers and proper nouns, and sign off accuracy before any voice-over or subtitle work begins. ISO 17100:2015 is the international standard for translation services, published by the International Organization for Standardization and specifying requirements for core processes, resources and quality delivery. The standard mandates revision by a second linguist, which our QA workflow extends with an independent third reviewer for legal and medical projects.
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Stage 5 — How is the final deliverable produced?
Final deliverables are produced in the requested format: a time-coded bilingual transcript (DOCX/PDF), a subtitle file (SRT, VTT, TTML), a voice-over recording (MP3, WAV) or a lip-synced dubbed video (MP4), each round-checked against the QA-signed script. Subtitle files are reading-speed compliant, voice-over masters are mixed to broadcast loudness, and dubbed video is synchronised frame-accurate to the source.
Which audio translation deliverables can you order?
Six audio translation deliverables are available: bilingual time-coded transcripts, monolingual translated transcripts, subtitle files (SRT/VTT/TTML), professional voice-over recordings, lip-sync dubbed video and certified transcripts accepted by UK authorities.
| Deliverable | Primary use | Output format | Indicative starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilingual time-coded transcript | Legal, market research, academia | DOCX, PDF | From £30 per page |
| Monolingual translated transcript | Internal review, publishing | DOCX, PDF | From £30 per page |
| Subtitle file | Podcasts, social, broadcast | SRT, VTT, TTML, burned-in | From £8 per audio minute |
| Voice-over recording | E-learning, corporate, IVR | MP3, WAV | From £15 per audio minute |
| Lip-sync dubbed video | Film, TV, premium product video | MP4 | Bespoke quote |
| Certified transcript | Home Office, courts, NHS, universities | Stamped PDF | From £30 per page |
When should you choose subtitles over voice-over or dubbing?
Choose subtitles when the audience prefers to hear the original voice, budgets are tight, or content is published on social platforms; choose voice-over for training and corporate explainers; choose lip-sync dubbing for broadcast film, TV and premium product video. Our Subtitling Services deliver reading-speed-compliant SRT, VTT and burned-in subtitles, while our Voice Over Services supply studio-recorded mother-tongue voice artists across 80+ languages.
What file formats are accepted in and out?
Inbound audio formats include MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC and FLAC, plus MP4, MOV, AVI and MKV for video; outbound formats include DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT, TTML, MP3 voice-over masters and MP4 dubbed video.
| Direction | Audio formats | Video formats | Text/document formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inbound (source) | MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, FLAC | MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV | Optional reference DOCX, PDF |
| Outbound (delivery) | MP3, WAV (voice-over) | MP4 (dubbed) | DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT, TTML |
Which industries use audio translation services in the UK?
Seven UK industries lean heavily on audio translation: legal and law enforcement, healthcare and life sciences, market research, broadcast and media, e-learning, corporate communications and the creative podcast sector. Audio transcription and translation break language barriers, enhance accessibility and open new markets by converting spoken content into searchable text and translating it into 200+ languages.
How is audio translation used in legal cases?
Legal audio translation supports depositions, recorded police interviews, intercepted-communications evidence, arbitration hearings and witness statements, delivered as certified bilingual transcripts admissible in UK courts and Home Office proceedings. Our Legal Translation Services team pairs sworn or certified linguists with chain-of-custody documentation so that evidential audio survives challenge in court.
How is audio translation used in healthcare and clinical trials?
Medical audio translation covers patient interviews, NHS appointment recordings, clinical-trial participant sessions and medical training audio, translated under confidentiality controls and ISO 17100 review by linguists with healthcare specialism. Our Medical Translation Services linguists hold subject expertise in oncology, cardiology, paediatrics, mental health and pharmacology.
How is audio translation used in market research?
Market-research audio translation handles focus groups, in-depth interviews and ethnographic recordings, returning analysis-ready bilingual transcripts plus optional subtitled video reels for stakeholder readouts. Deliverables include speaker-labelled transcripts, sentiment markers and verbatim quote columns suitable for coding in NVivo or Atlas.ti.
How is audio translation used in broadcast, podcasting and e-learning?
Broadcast, podcast and e-learning clients commission translated subtitles, voice-overs and dubbed episodes to reach global audiences, with reading-speed-compliant SRT files, studio voice artists and timing-locked dubs delivered against publication schedules. Podcast translation services produce target-language transcripts, on-platform subtitles or re-voiced episodes that publish in lockstep with the original release calendar.
How is audio translation used for corporate communications?
Corporate clients order audio translation for multilingual all-hands videos, investor briefings, product launches and internal training, producing subtitle tracks, dubbed editions and translated transcripts for distribution across international offices. Most corporate briefs combine subtitle and voice-over outputs through our Video Translation Services pipeline.
Pricing
How much do audio translation services cost in London and the UK?
Audio translation services in the UK start from £30 per page for the certified translated transcript, with the full per-minute quote shaped by source-audio runtime, audio clarity, number of speakers, language pair, deliverable type and turnaround speed.
| Deliverable | Starting price | Pricing unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified translated transcript | £30 | Per page (≤250 words) | Includes signed certification statement |
| Sworn translated transcript | £45 | Per page | For foreign court submissions |
| Notarised translated transcript | £75 | Per document | UK notary public seal added |
| Subtitle file (SRT/VTT/TTML) | £8 | Per audio minute | Reading-speed compliant |
| Voice-over recording | £15 | Per audio minute | Studio mother-tongue artist |
| Lip-sync dubbed video | Bespoke | Per project | Quote on file review |
What variables move the audio translation quote?
Five variables move an audio translation quote: total runtime in minutes, audio clarity and background noise, number of distinct speakers, language pair rarity and the chosen deliverable (transcript, subtitle, voice-over or dub). Length of the recording is the primary driver, while audio clarity and speaker count increase transcription and editing time before translation begins.
Are certified, sworn and notarised audio transcripts priced differently?
Certified audio transcripts start at £30 per page, sworn translations start at £45 per page where the target jurisdiction requires a court-sworn translator, and notarised transcripts start at £75 per document when a UK notary public’s seal is required. Compare the three certification routes against UK acceptance bodies in the next section.
What turnaround times apply to audio translation in London?
Audio translation turnaround in London runs same-day for recordings under 1,000 source words placed before 11:00 GMT, 24 to 48 hours for legal and academic packs, and milestone delivery for projects above 10,000 words, all under an ISO 17100-certified quality workflow. These timelines are calculated from the moment a fully briefed order is confirmed, not from enquiry, so providing complete source files and any reference glossaries at the point of submission is the single most effective way to protect your deadline. Legal and medical recordings often carry specialist terminology that requires a subject-matter linguist, so those briefs are matched to an appropriately qualified translator before the clock starts.
For large projects exceeding 10,000 words — such as an e-learning catalogue, a broadcast documentary series or a multi-session clinical trial — milestone delivery is the standard approach. Translated and reviewed batches are released on agreed weekly drops, giving production teams, legal reviewers or compliance officers rolling access to finished content rather than a single large handover at the end. Every milestone batch passes the same dual-linguist QA step as a standalone short-form project, so quality is consistent across the full run.
| Project size | Turnaround | Cut-off | Typical use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 source words (≈7 audio minutes) | Same day | 11:00 GMT, London | Voicemail evidence, short interview |
| 1,000–5,000 words (legal/academic pack) | 24–48 hours | Standard | Deposition, clinical interview |
| 5,000–10,000 words | 3–5 working days | Standard | Focus group set, podcast season |
| 10,000+ words | Milestone delivery | Weekly drops | E-learning catalogue, broadcast series |
Audio quality directly affects transcription speed and therefore the overall turnaround. Recordings with significant background noise, overlapping speakers or low bit-rates take longer to transcribe accurately, which shifts a brief into the next tier. Submitting the highest-quality file available — ideally a WAV or FLAC original rather than a compressed copy — keeps your project on the fastest available schedule.
Certified vs sworn vs notarised audio transcripts — which do you need?
Certified audio transcripts cover most UK Home Office, employer, NHS and university submissions, sworn audio transcripts are required when a foreign court demands a translator sworn before that jurisdiction, and notarised audio transcripts add a UK notary’s identity verification on top of certification. Understanding the difference before you commission the work prevents costly resubmissions: UK authorities have distinct requirements, and supplying the wrong level of authentication means your document will be rejected regardless of translation quality.
A certified translation carries a signed statement from a qualified translator confirming that the translation is accurate and complete to the best of their professional knowledge. This statement is sufficient for the Home Office, UK courts, the NHS, universities and most UK employers. Certified audio transcripts start from £30 per page for documents under 250 words, with bespoke pricing applied to longer recordings based on runtime, audio quality and language pair.
A sworn translation is produced by a translator who has been formally sworn before a court in the target jurisdiction, giving the document an elevated legal status recognised by the courts of that country. If you are submitting evidence to proceedings in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Poland or another jurisdiction with its own sworn-translator register, this is the format you need — a UK-only certified statement will not satisfy the foreign court’s requirements.
A notarised translation combines the certified or sworn translation with a notary public’s seal, which independently verifies the translator’s identity and signature. This layer is required by foreign embassies, overseas property transactions and international inheritance matters. Notarised translations are available from £75 per document.
| Type | What it adds | Accepted by | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Translation Services | Signed certification statement on translator letterhead | UK Home Office, UK courts, NHS, universities, employers | £30 per page |
| Sworn Translation Services | Translator sworn before a court in the target jurisdiction | Foreign courts (France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Poland and others) | £45 per page |
| Notarised Translation Services | UK notary public seal verifying translator’s identity | Foreign embassies, overseas property and inheritance matters | £75 per document |
Which languages does our UK audio translation team cover?
Our UK audio translation team covers more than 200 languages, including Mandarin, Russian, Italian, Korean, Bulgarian, Arabic, French, Spanish, German and Polish, each handled by mother-tongue linguists who work exclusively into their native tongue. Coverage extends beyond the most widely requested European and East Asian languages to include Central Asian, African, Pacific and sign-language pairs, making it possible to commission a single agency for a multilingual media project without sourcing separate specialists for each target language. Twenty of the highest-volume UK pairs run daily through the pipeline:
- English ↔ French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese
- English ↔ Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Czech, Hungarian
- English ↔ Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Urdu, Pashto
- English ↔ Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese
Mother-tongue assignment is a non-negotiable quality requirement, not a preference, because nuance, idiom and register in spoken audio are harder to replicate accurately when a linguist works into a second language. For audio content in particular — where tone, hesitation markers and cultural references carry meaning — a native-speaker translator captures subtleties that a non-native speaker normalises or misses entirely. Every linguist in the network is also matched to the subject domain of the recording: a legal deposition goes to a legal specialist, a clinical-trial recording goes to a medically qualified translator, and a marketing podcast goes to a linguist with commercial copywriting experience.
Why does language pair affect timing and price?
Language pair affects timing and price because rare combinations draw on smaller pools of native-speaker linguists, while high-volume pairs such as English to French or English to Spanish move through the pipeline faster and at a lower per-minute rate. A common pair like English–Spanish benefits from deep bench strength: multiple qualified translators available at any given time, parallel workstreams running simultaneously, and same-day delivery. A rare pair such as Korean to Bulgarian requires careful matching and involves a two-linguist relay when no direct mother-tongue specialist is available, adding one additional QA pass and approximately 24 hours to the schedule. Per-minute audio quotes reflect these variables transparently, so you receive a bespoke price based on runtime, audio quality and the specific language pair rather than a flat rate that underestimates complex briefs.
About
How do you protect confidentiality on sensitive audio?
Confidentiality on sensitive audio is protected through a signed NDA on every project, GDPR-aligned data handling, encrypted upload and download channels, UK-based server storage, and named linguists assigned only after security clearance for legal, medical and government work. Audio files — particularly legal depositions, police interviews, clinical-trial recordings and corporate briefings — contain information that is both personally sensitive and commercially valuable, and the controls applied to them must be proportionate to that risk. Our approach treats every file as sensitive by default rather than on request, so the full suite of protections is active from the moment you submit an enquiry.
GDPR compliance means that personal data contained in audio recordings is processed lawfully, stored only for as long as necessary, and never transferred outside the UK without an appropriate legal mechanism in place. UK-based server infrastructure keeps all stored files within a single regulatory jurisdiction, simplifying your own data-protection obligations if you are a UK-regulated entity such as a law firm, NHS trust or financial services provider. Secure file deletion is available 30 days after sign-off on request, giving you a documented end-of-life confirmation for the source and working files.
Five controls sit on every file from upload to delivery:
- Mutual NDA signed before file transfer
- TLS-encrypted upload portal
- UK-based servers under GDPR jurisdiction
- Role-based access limited to assigned linguists and the named project manager
- Secure file deletion 30 days after sign-off, on request
Why us
Why choose an ISO 17100-certified London audio translation agency?
Choosing an ISO 17100-certified London audio translation agency secures a documented dual-linguist QA workflow, traceable project records, a named UK-based project manager, and the certification statements that UK authorities accept. ISO 17100 is the international standard that governs professional translation services: it mandates that every translation is reviewed by a second qualified linguist independent of the original translator, that project records are maintained and auditable, and that all translators meet defined qualification and experience thresholds. When a submitted document carries a certification statement from an agency operating under this standard, receiving bodies — including the Home Office, UK courts, the NHS and universities — can place confidence in the output without commissioning their own linguistic review.
- ISO 17100 quality standard with mandatory independent reviewer step
- ISO 18587-aligned post-editing where machine-assisted drafts are used, ensuring human-grade output
- Single named London project manager per brief
- Certification statements accepted by the Home Office, UK courts, NHS and universities
- Same-day cut-off at 11:00 GMT for short recordings
- 200+ language coverage with mother-tongue linguists